(a) An insurer shall not engage in the transaction of insurance in this State unless authorized by a certificate of authority in force pursuant to the laws of this State, or exempted by this chapter or otherwise exempted by the insurance laws of this State.
(b) A person shall not engage in a transaction of insurance or in this State directly or indirectly act as agent for, or otherwise represent or aid on behalf of another, a nonadmitted insurer in the solicitation, negotiation, procurement or effectuation of insurance, or renewals thereof, or forwarding of applications, or delivery of policies or contracts or inspection of risks, or fixing of rates, or investigation or adjustment of claims or losses, or collection or forwarding of premiums, or in any other manner represent or assist the insurer in the transaction of insurance.
(c) A person who represents or aids a nonadmitted insurer in violation of this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 106 of this title. No insurance contract entered into in violation of this section shall preclude the insured from enforcing his or her rights under the contract in accordance with the terms and provisions of the contract of insurance and the laws of this State, to the same degree those rights would have been enforceable had the contract been lawfully procured.
(d) If the nonadmitted insurer fails to pay a claim or loss within the provisions of the insurance contract and the laws of this State, a person who assisted or in any manner aided directly or indirectly in the procurement of the insurance contract, shall be liable to the insured for the full amount under the provisions of the insurance contract.
(e) Subsection (b) or (d) of this section shall not apply to an insured who independently procures insurance.
(f) This section shall not apply to a person, properly licensed as a producer in this State who, for a fee and pursuant to a written agreement, is engaged solely to offer to the insured advice, counsel or opinion, or service with respect to the benefits, advantages or disadvantages promised under any proposed or in-force policy of insurance if the person does not, directly or indirectly, participate in the solicitation, negotiation or procurement of insurance on behalf of the insured.
(g) This section shall not apply to a surplus lines broker duly licensed in this State who is acting in material compliance with the insurance laws of this State in the placement of surplus lines insurance as provided in this chapter.